An Evolution in Technology: Renewed Hope with Frozen Donor Eggs

Renewed Hope with Frozen Donor Eggs

So, those of you who know me personally know that I lost a two-day-old infant. In my journey of grieving and healing, I met some incredible women who suffered not only numerous pregnancy losses, but have dealt with the difficulties of getting pregnant at all.

When we’re children, many of us imagine a life as a mommy, and we have no idea that for some of us, it’s a really difficult path. Sadly, too many parents find getting pregnant quite challenging.

We were approached by a company, Donor Egg Bank USA, to publish a post about frozen donor eggs. While this is a sponsored post, I felt like this was definitely a post worth sharing on our platform. I hope if you need this information, it finds you. Maybe this is an option you had not yet considered?

Frozen Donor Eggs

Recent advancements in fertility technology have tremendously improved the process of using frozen donor eggs. Just a quarter of a century ago, reproductive medicine options were more limited and pregnancy rates with assisted reproduction were significantly lower than today. The advancements in technology are almost miraculous.

Previously, the primary option available to couples facing fertility issues looked like this:

Visit their local sperm bank

Select their desired sperm

Ship the spertm to their fertility clinic of choice

From there, the time-sensitive insemination process was performed cycle after cycle in hopes of success.

This process was a lengthy, unpredictable, and emotionally draining – with very little payoff.

However, continued research through trial and error has led to huge gains in knowledge and groundbreaking progressive advancements in assisted fertility.

These advancements in family building options may offer peace of mind to prospective parents. Knowing you have control and choice over timing, method, and treatment cost of the process can alleviate many worries. It also makes assisted reproduction customizable and convenient for our fast-paced world.

What triggered these fertility advancements?

One of the driving forces behind advancements in fertility technology was improvement in cryopreservation, or the freezing of embryos and eggs. In the past, a slow-freezing process was the most popular method used for both.

The first live baby was born with this freezing technique in the 1980s. However, slow-freezing of eggs tended to lead to ice crystal formation in the cell structure, which would destroy the egg upon thawing.

Recently a more advanced form of freezing, vitrification, has replaced the old slow freezing technique. Vitrification allows scientists to remove some of the water from the freezing process. This ultimately increases the likelihood of a successful pregnancy. Currently, vitrification is the most common route taken by in vitro labs throughout the world.

How has the process of assisted fertilization changed?

The process has shortened – When live donors are involved in the IVF process, the donor must go through rigorous screening before eggs can be retrieved. Additionally the timing of each woman’s menstrual cycle must be perfectly coordinated. It’s a process that can take up to 12 months, according to Fertility Authority.

Smoother freezingprocess – The vitrification process quickly freezes eggs (which, like most of our cells, contain large amounts of water) fast enough to prevent crystallization. In the past, crystallization of water within the eggs complicated the process and decreased success rates substantially.

Cost reduction with frozen eggs and worry elimination – Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the use of donor eggs has risen more than 80 percent since 2000. These eggs are in high demand and incredibly costly – one cycle may cost up to $25,000!

With frozen eggs, a couple need not worry about whether their chosen donor will have a successful retrieval and produce an adequate number of quality eggs. Eggs are already frozen and guaranteed to be mature (kind of like a guaranteed investment versus a stock). The process is cheaper and more likely to be successful.

Keeps the option of fertility alive – For women preparing for medical procedures that may impact their fertility, they now have the option of cryopreserving (freezing) their own eggs for use in the future.

The Frozen Donor Egg Process and Donor Egg Bank USA

Enroll

Take a look at donoreggbankusa.com for a basic overview of information. Once you’ve had a look at the website, call the main office at 240-778-6210 to answer any additional questions and enroll into the program. Enrollment is free and there is no obligation until a donor is selected.

Once you’ve chosen a donor through the website, payments or financing will be arranged. Eggs are delivered to the Reproductive Center of your choice for fertilization and embryo transfer. Just two weeks later, you will know if the procedure is successful with a pregnancy test!

With modern technology and research significantly advancing the process of assisted reproduction, the possibility of having your own family turns brighter with each passing day. Frozen donor eggs are a viable, real option for couples struggling with infertility.

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Alexa Bigwarfe is a freelance writer and author. Alexa co-authored the book "Lose the Cape: Realities from Busy Modern Moms and Strategies to Survive" (losethecape.com) published in Spring 2015. Her #losethecape philosophy as a mom is based on the idea that we are all doing the best that we can as moms, and should be encouraged in motherhood. She also edited and published a book for grieving mothers entitled "Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother" and has been published in several anthologies, including "The Mother of All Meltdowns," and "The HerStories Project," and "Mothering Through the Darkness." She launched her writing with the the blog No Holding Back, (http://katbiggie.com) as an outlet for her grief after the loss of one of her twin daughters to Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). She can be followed on Facebook (http://facebook.com/NoHoldingBack1212) and Twitter (@katbiggie).